If you want to improve your online privacy and user experience, you should invest in a virtual private network. However, what is a bit difficult is to find a provider with the right features, since there are many VPN providers on the market to choose.
Two potential competitors you might come across are ExpressVPN and IPVanish, both of which are among the best VPNs out there. But which one should you choose? We compare them based on price, speed, ease of use, features, and more to help you choose the service that best suits your needs and expectations.
ExpressVPN is a virtual private network service that was founded in 2009. It was created by a company called Express VPN International Ltd.
ExpressVPN represents its marketing value as the software is marketed as the best privacy and security tool for Internet users. It completely hides the user’s IP address and privacy is well maintained.
ExpressVPN has released the application for almost all operating systems. Starting with Windows and macOS, the company has now started releasing apps for iOS, Android and Linux.
The number of servers is generous with more than 2000 servers. The company has servers in 94 countries with over 148 locations.
Strategically, the largest server locations are in Brazil, Canada and the United States, which is why they offer such fast connections. In addition, servers in European countries also offer high speeds in the region.
All of these countries have censorship laws and China has come out strongly against Apple. This has caused Apple to remove all VPN apps from the Apple Store in China, which also affects ExpressVPN.
IPVanishVPN is a commercial VPN provider. It is based in the United States.
Its servers are located in more than 60 countries. For this reason, the connections are a bit slower than the other devices.
IPVanish offers end-to-end encryption for the network. When connecting over the network, the IP is masked and a pseudo IP is shared between users.
IPVanish is considered even more secure with the addition of the protocol. However, their privacy policy was questionable as they violated their privacy policy by sharing a client’s data with the police.
Users can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously. All data is encrypted and IPs are scrambled. IP Vanish can use the same feature to bypass zone access restrictions and browse online sites without any problems. So many region-restricted games can be played easily with IP Vanish.
Features
Features of ExpressVPN
- Server for 94 countries
- Protocols: OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, PPTP.
- Up to 3 people can be connected simultaneously
- 256-bit encryption
- Built-in speed tests
- Applications for all major operating systems
- 30 days money back guarantee
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited speed
Features of IPVanish
- Servers in over 60 countries
- Protocols: OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP
- Up to 5 simultaneous connections
- 256-bit encryption
- Unlimited P2P traffic
- Applications for all major operating systems
- SOCKS5 proxy
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited speed
Speed Test
In this ExpressVPN vs IPVanish speed comparison, I tested both VPNs with different server locations around the world. All tests were performed with the respective VPN clients on a 500 Mbps basic connection.
Note: ExpressVPN has introduced a major performance upgrade for the Lightway protocol. In our tests, this protocol delivered significantly higher speeds than OpenVPN. Lightway is very similar to WireGuard, which is the protocol we used in the following tests. IPVanish does not support these faster protocols and relies heavily on OpenVPN.
Test 1: Seattle
This ExpressVPN server in Seattle delivered speeds of around 136Mbps(On average).
That’s not great, but it’s not terrible either. Let’s see if IPVanish is faster than ExpressVPN at this location.
Here’s IPVanish server in Seattle with a speed of about 79Mbps(On average).
ExpressVPN is the clear winner at this location, with speeds around 57Mbps faster than IPVanish.
Test 2: Los Angeles
Here’s ExpressVPN server in Los Angeles, with speeds around 209Mbps(On average).
Here are ExpressVPN speed test results at over 200Mbps.
Here is IPVanish server in Los Angeles with a speed of about 68Mbps(On average).
ExpressVPN is also faster than IPVanish at this location, outperforming it by about 141Mbps.
Test 3: New York
The next test was New York. Here, ExpressVPN New York server achieves a speed of 214Mbps(On average).
Now let’s compare it to IPVanish. Here is IPVanish New York server at about 5Mbps(On average).
This is a terrible speed test result for IPVanish at about 5Mbps. That means ExpressVPN is over 200Mbps faster than IPVanish at this location.
Test 4: United Kingdom
Here is ExpressVPN server in the UK with a speed of about 235 Mbps(On average).
This is another great speed test result from ExpressVPN. Now let’s see if IPVanish can do better.
Here is IPVanish server in the UK with a speed of only about 43Mbps(On average).
Overall, we can see that ExpressVPN is significantly faster than IPVanish in all tested locations.
Pricing Plans
| VPN Providers | 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ExpressVPN |
$12.95 |
- |
$59.95 |
$99.95 |
|
IPVanish |
$11.99 |
$26.99 |
- |
$77.99 |
Overall, we can see that ExpressVPN is significantly faster than IPVanish in all tested locations.
Privacy and Security
For some people, the most important feature of a VPN service is security. Without the right encryption software, your online activity can be tracked and your network can be easily hacked. Both IPVanish and ExpressVPN use advanced 256-bit AES encryption, the most secure version of the software, which makes your network virtually invulnerable.
Moreover, both VPNs are compatible with The Onion Network TOR, which offers greater anonymity. To use IPVanish and Tor, you can log into the VPN using the Tor browser and vice versa. ExpressVPN hosts its own. Onion website, which offers a faster and easier way to combine VPN and Tor.
App Interface and Usability
Since both ExpressVPN and IPVanish have a transparent interface, you can choose one of the leading VPNs for easy access. The main user interface is extremely easy to use and provides a stable server connection when binge streaming Netflix or accessing certain regional restrictions.
IPVanish offers better options for users and has everything perfectly arranged in the main menu. Instead of scrolling down endlessly to find the right server, you can find a country’s server and click to connect. Both ExpressVPN and IPVanish offer users list-based servers and quick search options.
ExpressVPN is able to save recently used servers as well as offer some reliable and stable server options. The list-based server option is more than minimalist and helps users find their way around the ExpressVPN app without any roadblocks. Top 5 server locations with super-fast internet speeds and secure connections.
Encryption
The first line of defense for VPN is data encryption. The industry standard is 256-bit encryption, which happens to be the best and is used by governments and militaries around the world. Both ExpressVPN and IPVanish have chosen 256-bit encryption to provide you with superior security.
DNS Leak Protection
Although neither VPN explicitly claims to protect against DNS leaks, both performed well in DNS leak tests. ExpressVPN claims to have its own DNS system running on all servers. Not only is this faster, but the results are more secure.
No logging policy
Many people sign up for the product without reading the terms of service or privacy policy. This is a big mistake as you can unknowingly sign up to access your personal information. Therefore, VPN providers should have a no-logging policy to ensure that your data and personal information are not misused.
ExpressVPN does not store activity or contact logs. ExpressVPN promises users that it never stores their browsing data and real IP addresses, although the provider does store some information. The information stored by ExpressVPN includes the date of connection, VPN server, data transferred daily, and applications used. In addition, ExpressVPN also stores information such as your name, email address, and billing information for billing and payment purposes.
IPVanish also has a zero-logging policy and does not log user traffic on its network, unlike ExpressVPN, which does not store connection data or anything else related to VPN sessions. IPVanish only collects email addresses, billing information, and personal data like your name and address.
However, one advantage ExpressVPN has over IPVanish is that its privacy policies have been independently audited. This is a great reassurance for users as it legitimizes the privacy policy claims and assures them that their data is 100% safe.
Streaming
Unblocking streaming media is one of the most common reasons for using VPNs, so access to all available content is a big selling point for any service provider.
ExpressVPN makes it clear what sites it can provide access to, so you can expect a lot from it. We had no trouble unlocking YouTube – not a difficult task – but it also easily overcame Netflix restrictions, giving us access to every regional library we tried.
While IPVanish is rather low-key in its marketing materials, it passed these tests effortlessly as well, giving us easy access to YouTube and Netflix – it’s no coincidence that it appears alongside ExpressVPN on our list of best Netflix VPNs.
Unlocking iPlayer is a much more difficult task, however, and only Express gave us access in this comparison – all of IPVanish’s UK servers failed to unlock the BBC streaming service.
If you live in the UK or don’t care for iPlayer, both IPVanish and ExpressVPN are good tools for unlocking Netflix, but of the two, only Express can unlock anything you might want to watch.
Torrents
These two services are also excellent torrent VPN.
Both have full P2P support on all servers – providers like NordVPN and Surfshark don’t boast this – which means that when you need to torrent, the exact server you connect to will support your activity. There’s no automatic switching here.
If you have to choose between the two, it’s Express again, purely because of the wider choice of servers and the good location of the servers. For users outside of Europe and the US, especially in Asia, Africa, and South America, ExpressVPN offers a better selection of servers closer to home, making it faster.
Number of Devices
Although we only need one VPN subscription, we can connect to multiple devices at the same time. We’re constantly switching from our phones to our tablets and laptops, so we want to make sure we don’t overload our VPN. IPVanish allows us to connect to six devices at once, while ExpressVPN limits us to five.
Browser Extensions
Of the dozens of VPNs I tested, I found ExpressVPN’s Chrome and Firefox extensions worked the best. They are the only full-fledged VPNs that don’t simply offer a proxy connection (i.e., no VPN channel, only browser traffic is protected), but can be controlled from the browser.
What does IPVanish offer? Only a proxy extension for Chrome. Firefox is not supported. allows connections to all countries in the desktop app, but only through a proxy.
Therefore, ExpressVPN wins in this category because its extension is technically more powerful and it offers support for 2 browsers, while IPVanish has only one browser.
Server
ExpressVPN has a couple of servers spread over a larger area.
IPVanish has its own network of servers, making it a tier 1 VPN service. However, this network has just over 1,300 servers located in 75 locations in 50 countries. While this is not a small number, it still does not compare to ExpressVPN’s 3,000+ servers in 160 locations in 94 countries.
Moreover, ExpressVPN has several servers that are not blocked by popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
BitTorrent support
BitTorrent/P2P file sharing is both one of the most popular and one of the most controversial online activities today. Depending on the location and type of files shared, BitTorrent activity can be legal or illegal.
A VPN encrypts your connection and hides your real IP address. This ensures that your online file sharing remains secret, even if the torrent you access is a honeypot created by law enforcement or the entertainment industry (files disguised as popular movies or other content to trick you into downloading evidence to your hard drive).
ExpressVPN allows you to use BitTorrent on any server in its global network, and the provider even offers a uTorrent guide on its website. The guide gives tips on how to use ExpressVPN to keep your P2P activities private.
The lack of server protocols for both providers means that their customers’ torrent activities are safely exposed.
Customer Support
ExpressVPN – Live chat support is a bit spotty, which means it may not be available from time to time. If this is the case, you can simply click on the “Live Chat” button and send them an email to ask about it. Email support usually takes about an hour to respond.
On the other hand, IPVanish offers 24/7 live chat support and answered our questions within 90 seconds. Every time I tried to contact them via live chat, I got the answers I wanted in a timely manner.
You can browse informative articles on various topics on the website. Therefore, IPVanish provides better customer support service through its fast and useful live chat feature.
China
ExpressVPN operates in China, although the main website of the service is blocked by the Great Firewall. As a result, you have to log in from another website, and for now, get-express-vpn.com is still available within China. There are occasional outages due to new firewall updates in China, but the service is usually back up within a short time.
IPVanish openly admits that its service is not available in China, although it provides a contact guide for customers who want to try it. However, since IPVanish’s IP address has been blacklisted by the Chinese government, the chances of connecting are very slim.
Setup and Interface
IPVanish and ExpressVPN work flawlessly on both large and small screens. Both are very simple, with one-click connections and minimal clutter. IPVanish excels in this area, allowing users to select their preferred region and server right on the app’s home screen. ExpressVPN isn’t much more complicated, either, as changing servers only requires one tap.
But IPVanish offers more security options for mobile devices. Users can choose to encrypt OpenVPN traffic, block LAN access, use shared tunnels and change protocols. ExpressVPN’s slim auto-reconnect and protocol selection options seem a bit sparse in comparison. It does, however, include smart location features to automatically connect to the fastest servers.
Of course, the desktop app offers a much larger feature set. For example, ExpressVPN lets you protect your desktop computer with split tunnels and kill switches. With the IPVanish desktop app, you can change IP addresses or configure third-party DNS at predefined intervals.
Gaming
Internet connection speed is one of the most important factors when it comes to gaming. As mentioned earlier, ExpressVPN offers a more consistent network connection speed than IPVanish.
ExpressVPN also comes with the handy MediaStreamer feature, which is great for consoles as it lets you enjoy all the benefits without buffering. ExpressVPN is also available for PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Although ExpressVPN offers slightly better gaming features than IPVanish, that doesn’t mean that IPVanish isn’t suitable for gaming. It still offers impressive connection speeds that are enough for you to play your favorite games. While it doesn’t offer dedicated DDoS protection, its DNS leak protection feature will keep you safe while playing your favorite video games.
ExpressVPN
When you want to connect to the network via ExpressVPN, the user interface features a large “on” button that is highlighted by a protective graphic on the back
Selecting the host you want to connect to is made easier by the “Select Location” button, which opens a list of ExpressVPN servers in a new window.
It’s easy to use the search feature to find a location to connect to a host, and ExpressVPN has taken care to provide some filters to help you narrow down your search.
There are five tabs in this section, most of which are self-explanatory. Here you can choose which method of service to use when booting the device, disable or enable the kill button, or start a shared tunnel.
From here it’s just down to the Browser tab, which we think is important because it contains hyperlinks to download Firefox, Safari and Chrome extensions.
IPVanishVPN
Ease of use is not an issue with IPVanish, but there are more options to download directly from the interface than ExpressVPN.
It directs the user to the Quick Connect tab at startup, where recommended servers also display relevant information such as protocol and IP address.
This shows the scale graphic that takes up most of the display, so the “ON” button is a bit hard to see, but it is in the upper right corner.
The “Settings” section can also be simple and straightforward. Here you’ll find protocols, kill switches, IP authentication, and fine-tuning the DNS settings for this client.
Speaking of protocols, you’ll finally come across IPVanish’s SOCKS5 proxy hosting protocol – designed to save you downloading a client – but I wouldn’t recommend this to clients unless they know their way around a VPN inside and out; it comes at the price of weaker encryption.
Finally, there’s a small loophole in the kill button that I’d like to explore here ExpressVPN kill button – called Network Lock – apparently alerts consumers when connections are broken and active. IP Vanish lacks these notifications, which is actually another way to confirm user security.
Which is better, IPVanish or ExpressVPN?
Both VPNs are solid choices, so we had to dive into the details to tell them apart. Ultimately, choosing a VPN depends on what’s most important to you and what your specific motivation is for signing up for a VPN in the first place. That said, while these VPNs are almost neck and neck, ExpressVPN is slightly ahead of IPVanish.
ExpressVPN’s Panama headquarters is a huge advantage, as we don’t have to worry about our data being discovered by the government. Combined with an extensive global network and the ability to stream your favorite movies on Netflix, it’s hard to deny. Still, IPVanish has its advantages, such as cost, the ability to connect multiple devices, and top-notch customer service.
Conclusion
The VPN market is flooded with a variety of VPNs, and each one claims to be the best. To get the best VPN, it pays to take a look at all of its features. And this guide can help you do just that
For example, IPVanish supports torrenting, is fast, allows multiple connections, and comes with the best security features. The same goes for ExpressVPN. Thus, both services are among the best VPN providers in the industry, even if we have to choose one of them.
Based on comparisons, ExpressVPN ranks among the best in most categories. As such, it is the clear winner in this battle. Other thoughts? Make sure the VPN you choose works seamlessly for your needs.
